Insight into Disability
Coming up, a new course: Insight into Disability: for carers of those experiencing the onset of disability Led by Gordon Temple (Executive Officer of CfA and CEO of Torch Trust) this CWR day course is on Saturday 7 March 2015 at Waverley Abbey House, near Farnham in Surrey. Each day hundreds of people across Britain learn that they are going to live with disability or limiting chronic illness. The challenges faced are practical, emotional and spiritual. How do we understand disability and how do we support those who experience its onset and those that care for them? What is our pastoral response and how can we help them rebuild their lives? How can we enable disabled people to express their God-given gifting? What does a distinctively Christian response looks like? What part does the Church have in their rehabilitation and re-enablement? To book call CWR on 01252 784719 (Mon–Fri 9am–4.30pm). For more information: visit this relevant page on the CWR...
Read MoreConference Transcripts now available
Transcripts for the plenary sessions of the Enabling Church conference held in the Birmingham area in June 2014. Visit the Enabling Church Recordings and Transcripts page to read and hear the contributions of the exceptional line up of speakers. Among them were Roy McCloughry and Gill Behenna, respectively National Disability Adviser and National Adviser for Deaf Ministry for the Church of England, pictured here in an interview with Gordon Temple, CfA’s Executive Officer in which they expressed the vision they have for their new roles. Listen to or read the transcript of the...
Read MoreDid you see the Video?
Lichfield Diocese produced an excellent video of the recent Enabling Church conference. Did you see it? It really captured the buzz, and it’s packed with insightful comments. It’s really worth the few minutes it takes to watch. And the video includes BSL interpretation. So watch...
Read MoreResounding Success says Bishop
‘The Enabling Church conference held in the diocese was a resounding success,’ says Bishop of Wolverhampton, Clive Gregory, ‘Church should practise a generosity that reflects the abundance of God’s grace’ People came from as far as Aberdeen and Cornwall to this conference, which examined the role of disabled people in the Church and which was organised by Churches for All and sponsored by the Bishop of Lichfield’s 2014 Lent Appeal and Premier Christian Radio. The focus of the conference was on enabling churches to include and encourage disabled people – not just to attend, but to welcome and acknowledge them for the distinct perspectives, insights and gifts they bring to congregations. ‘Honesty demands that the Church has not always been on the side of people with disabilities,’ said Bishop Clive in his opening speech. ‘Like many other institutions in society, we have succumbed to prejudices that have excluded those whose vulnerabilities have made other people feel vulnerable. ‘But we are here as part of those who seek to address that past, those who are passionate in our belief that the Church as much as society should practise a generosity that reflects the abundance of God’s grace.’ Over 400 people, very many of them disabled themselves, gathered for the conference. A total of 17 organisations were represented in the range of speakers and in the exhibition space. Keynote speakers included the Church of England’s National Disability Adviser Roy McCloughry and National Adviser for Deaf Ministry Gill Behenna. Two thought-provoking speakers came from the USA: a special video message was recorded for the conference by Joni Eareckson Tada who became a quadriplegic after a diving accident aged 17 and has been serving families with disabled members for 35 years; and Randy Lewis who developed the ‘NOGWOG’ Disability Initiative as a result of his position as Senior Vice President of Walgreens (similar to Boots the Chemists in the UK, of which it is now part-owner) which provides an effective, low-cost and sustainable disability-hiring model for employers. As well as the video produced by the Diocese of Lichfield (click here to watch video), sound recordings were made of the plenary speakers and streams and are available only with the video contrubution from Joni Eareckson Tada on the Enabling Church pages, along with links to partner organisations offering a range of resources for churches wanting to engage with this topic. Disability Sunday is 6th July – take the messages and meaning...
Read MoreParalympian co-hosts Conference
London 2012 Paralympian Michael Sharkey joins Sophia Nichols of ASNA to host the Enabling Church Day conference on 3 June at the Bethel Convention Centre in the Birmingham area. Michael is a 29 year old physiotherapist living in Hillingdon. For the last 13 years he has represented Great Britain at Goalball, an exciting, fast-paced sport for visually impaired people. Michael says, ‘I am very proud to have competed at the London 2012 Paralympic games. More importantly though, I am a believer in Christ and I attend Crown Church in Uxbridge. I am passionate about sharing what great things God has done in my life and I love to challenge churches as they reach out to people with a disability.’ Sophia Nicholls, who lives in Oxfordshire, is co-founder of ASNA, a Christian charity providing support for people living with disabilities, and awareness training. She is responsible for developing policy in disability ministry in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. One of her sons has severe learning disabilities. Together they will guide delegates through a fast paced programme which addresses the key topics of Disability – Dementia – Deafness. For more information and to BOOK NOW click...
Read MoreUS Author joins Conference
On 15 May Lion-Hudson published Randy Lewis’ book No Greatness Without Goodness. Randy join the Enabling Church conference on 3 June at the Bethel Convention Centre in the Birmingham area. No Greatness Without Goodness is the inspiring story of how Randy Lewis, as Senior Vice President of Walgreens in the US, changed the lives of thousands of people with disabilities. After watching the world through the eyes of his own autistic child, Austin, Randy was determined to use his position and influence as a corporate executive of Walgreens in the US to create a workplace where people with disabilities could not just succeed, but thrive. What followed was years of campaigning to garner company support to make the initiative successful. The result was two productivity leading distribution centres employing 35% people with disabilities. The initiative is now being rolled out nationwide in Walgreens retail stores across America and is changing the lives of thousands. The Walgreens success serves as a model for other employers in the U.S. and abroad including P&G, Marks & Spencer and Boots. Randy says, ‘ When it comes to our issues around inclusivity and the use of our power, I can think of no better example than Jesus himself.’ Joni Eareckson Tada, who is contributing to the Enabling Church conference by video say of Randy and his book, ‘People like me, a quadriplegic, need people of vision in their lives-people like Randy Lewis. Randy has truly caught God’s purpose in displaying his power through any and every weakness, and I am so grateful for his new book, No Greatness Without Goodness. To be great is to remember the lowly and to envision success for these individuals when they are unable to see it for themselves. Greatness like that not only makes for a person of fine character; it ultimately makes for a great society, even a great nation. I highly recommend No Greatness Without Goodness.’ Before retiring in 2013 as Senior Vice President, Randy led Walgreens’ logistics division for sixteen years as the chain grew from 1,500 to 8,000 stores with the most advanced logistics network in its industry. Over the past year, he has developed the NOGWOG Disability Initiative as an effective, low-cost and sustainable disability hiring model for employers. It is a private/public partnership between employers, community providers and government to provide employers with the qualified candidates they need and people with disabilities...
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